Tv Ad Drive Will Appeal For Tolerance

October 9, 1986|By United Press International

WASHINGTON — People for the American Way, citing an increase in politically related religious bigotry, unveiled a television advertising drive Wednesday to promote tolerance for different religious and political beliefs.

''The intolerance index is rising,'' Anthony Podesta, president of the religious liberty group of 250,000 members, said at a press conference.

A report by the group said the 1986 midterm election season ''has produced more incidents of religious intolerance -- at least two dozen -- than any campaign since People For began monitoring such incidents in 1980.''

Podesta said there also have been efforts to ''mold the public schools to sectarian beliefs'' and to ''force qualified candidates for judgeships to submit to written inquisitions about their personal religious views.''

He said the advertisements -- one 60 seconds and the other two minutes -- will go on the air first on Cable News Network as well as stations in Washington, New York and Los Angeles.

Podesta said the group already has spent $250,000 in buying time and expects to spend $1 million over the next 60 days to put the ads in markets with 50 million potential viewers.

The ad, set in a church, shows a spokesman voicing concern about the rise of religious intolerance and features cuts of TV evangelists Jerry Falwell, Charles Stanley and Jimmy Swaggert attacking the public schools, the Equal Rights Amendment and calling the Constitution ''the holy word of Almighty God.''

''Religious people, religious leaders and religious organizations can make a marvelously beneficial contribution to public life, public debate and the political process,'' said John Buchanan, chairman of People For and an ordained Southern Baptist minister.

''It is arrogant and intolerant for any group to claim it knows God's position on every roll call vote in Congress,'' he said.